# Most quintessential Christmas singer
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** music
**Created:** [December 11, 2024, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515 "2024-12-11T21:10:20Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2024, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515/1 "2024-12-11T21:10:20Z")
With only two weeks till Christmas, we’re in the thick of Christmas music on the radio, as background music in stores, etc. Which singer to you most exemplifies Christmas music? To me, I think the only real answer here is Bing Crosby. Immensely popular with a huge number of Christmas songs and albums and the best selling Christmas song of all time (“White Christmas”). Guys like Johnny Mathis, Nat King Cole, and even Elvis Presley have timeless classics for which they are well-known, but I don’t think you can argue there overall body of work in the Christmas genre can be compared to Crosby’s. Anyone else that you think should be mentioned?
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### Author:  [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2024, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515/2 "2024-12-11T21:11:19Z")
Harry Bellafonte.
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### Author:  [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2024, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515/3 "2024-12-11T21:14:26Z")
[Mel Torme](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjWQmtgxbMU).
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### Author:  [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2024, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515/4 "2024-12-11T21:21:34Z")
Andy Williams
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### Author:  [@Trieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trieste)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2024, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515/5 "2024-12-11T21:28:55Z")
Yes to all!
My parents had an LP called “Great Songs of Christmas” This (IMHO) is one that hits my heart the most:
Uhh, looks like I can’t post the youtube link
It is Anna Maria Alberghetti singing “Star Carol”
T
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2024, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515/6 "2024-12-11T21:30:34Z")
I can’t get enough of Harry Connick Jr’s Christmas stuff.
Michael Buble is creeping in there too. But he’s just doing a re-hash of the original dudes.
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### Author:  [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2024, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515/7 "2024-12-11T21:48:29Z")
Eartha Kitt.
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### Author:  [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2024, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515/8 "2024-12-11T21:53:30Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#):
>
> Michael Buble is creeping in there too. But he’s just doing a re-hash of the original dudes.
I say anyone who feels the need to change “Santa Baby” to “Santa Buddy” is automatically excluded.
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### Author:  [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2024, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515/9 "2024-12-11T21:55:00Z")
Mariah Carey🏃♀️
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### Author:  [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2024, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515/10 "2024-12-11T22:25:34Z")
> [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](#):
>
> I think the only real answer here is Bing Crosby.
You answered it yourself. Mele Kalikimaka, all!
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### Author:  [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2024, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515/11 "2024-12-11T22:48:05Z")
Dagmar Kraus? Tom Waits?
> [@ZipperJJ](#):
>
> I can’t get enough of Harry Connick Jr’s Christmas stuff.
>
> Michael Buble is creeping in there too. But he’s just doing a re-hash of the original dudes.
Heh, meanwhile I always though HCJ was an Old Blue Eyes re-hash.
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### Author:  [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)
#### Post date: [December 11, 2024, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515/12 "2024-12-11T23:00:22Z")
Burl Ives?
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2024, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515/13 "2024-12-12T01:37:26Z")
The thread led me to this Wikipedia article listing the best-selling Christmas albums, which I found interesting.
> **[List of best-selling Christmas albums in the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_Christmas_albums_in_the_United_States)**
>
> This page shows the best-selling Christmas albums in the United States. It includes artists from all over the world, but it only includes sales in the United States of America.
> Prior to March 1, 1991, the only means of tracking sales figures for record albums and singles in the United States was via the certification system of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), based specifically on shipments (less potential returns) on a long-term basis. According to the most recent record ...
In particular, Bing’s album _Merry Christmas_ was the best-selling Christmas album for the years 1945-1950, but it has since been outsold by more recent artists.
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### Author:  [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2024, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515/14 "2024-12-12T01:39:47Z")
Bing’s #1.
Nat King Cole would be #2.
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### Author:  [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2024, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515/15 "2024-12-12T02:11:39Z")
I’m with Bort. Andy _just_ squeaks past Nathan Explosion.
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### Author:  [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2024, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515/16 "2024-12-12T02:22:08Z")
No one else but Crosby. His rendition of “White Christmas” sold so many copies they wore out the master from repeated pressings and had to re-record the song. Before “White Christmas” there really were no secular Christmas songs to speak of, at least any that are remembered today.
Ironically, neither Irving Berlin, who wrote it, nor Bing Crosby, who made it famous, particularly liked the song. Berlin had written it years before and almost threw it away, thinking it was too corny, and Crosby’s first reaction was that it was sacrilegious. Of course, once Crosby warmed up to it, he practically became Mister Christmas. He sang the song during USO tours in World War II, even in the middle of August.
Name another song and singer that are still beloved and getting played on the radio after more than 80 years.
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2024, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515/17 "2024-12-12T03:04:47Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#):
>
> Heh, meanwhile I always though HCJ was an Old Blue Eyes re-hash.
I hear ya, but he puts more New Orleans swing into his performances.
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### Author:  [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2024, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515/18 "2024-12-12T03:28:26Z")
I think the question has been answered (it’s Bing).
Here are some iconic Christmas songs and performers that haven’t been mentioned yet:
Brenda Lee - Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
Gene Autry - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
The Ronettes - Sleigh Ride
José Feliciano - Feliz Navidad
Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Perry Como - (There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays
Judy Garland - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Bobby Helms - Jingle Bell Rock
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### Author:  [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2024, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515/19 "2024-12-12T03:36:10Z")
One for the “singers only remembered for Christmas songs” list: Gayla Peevey.
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### Author:  [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2024, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-quintessential-christmas-singer/1011515/20 "2024-12-12T05:55:11Z")
You should all count yourseves lucky you don’t live in a place where the answer is apparently ‘the singers of Boney M’.
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